1.Thema--Die Kinderliteratur Gestern

Check out Mark Twain's translation of Struwwelpeter.

Max und Moritz - Forerunners of Beavis and Butthead (Wonderful translations of these works have been written.) Below is the preface to the pranks of Max und Moritz.
===Preface===
Ah, how oft we read or hear of
Boys we almost stand in fear of!
For example, take these stories

Of two youths, named Max and Moritz,
Who, instead of early turning
Their young minds to useful learning,
Often leered with horrid features
At their lessons and their teachers.

Look now at the empty head: he
Is for mischief always ready.
Teasing creatures - climbing fences,
Stealing apples, pears, and quinces,
Is, of course, a deal more pleasant,
And far easier for the present,
Than to sit in schools or churches,
Fixed like roosters on their perches

But O dear, O dear, O deary,
When the end comes sad and dreary!
'Tis a dreadful thing to tell
That on Max and Moritz fell!
All they did this book rehearses,
Both in pictures and in verses.

2. Thema--Die Kinderliteratur Heute

Mein Esel Benjamin

Using a rubric to guide you, please present a modern German children's story to the class.

In addition prepare by finding essential vocabulary words, and translating 10 or more lines of book in to good English (depending on length of book.)

With the story survey, read a story aloud to adult of your choice and bring survey filled out and completed back to class.

All needed guidelines below:

Kinderliteratur Rubric.pdf

Children's Book Summary.pdf

Story Survey Sheet.pdf

Stories may include any of the children's books on the library shelf with the exception of the fairy tales, Struwwelpeter, Max und Moritz, and any American books translated into English.

Have you heard of these other famous German children's books?

Just click on the link for Heidi to read the book online.

Emil und die Detektive
Das Doppelte Lottchen (to be made into a movie called the Parent Trap years later)

3. Thema--Weihnachtsgeschichten und Lieder

Peruse the following links to find new and old Christmas poems, songs and stories. You will be memorizing a short Christmas poem, a song, or retelling a story as the culminating activity for the this unit. Don't forget that we have been invited to sing at the DANK Christmas party on Sunday, December 12th. You will be richly rewarded with German Christmas treats and extra credit culture points.

Here are a few of the shorter songs and poems that you might want to consider for your project.

Der Nikolaus Als ich bei meinen Schafen wach' Einmal im Jahr Der Bratapfel German version of "Twas the night before Christmas

Erich Kästner parody
In 1928 the German author Erich Kästner (Emil und die Detektive) wrote this parody of a traditional Christmas carol from about 1850. Read and give a summary after comparing to the original song lyrics--Morgen, Kinder, wird's was geben!

Morgen, Kinder, wird's nichts geben!
Nur wer hat, kriegt noch geschenkt.
Mutter schenkte Euch das Leben.
Das genügt, wenn man's bedenkt.
Einmal kommt auch Eure Zeit.
Morgen ist's noch nicht so weit.
Doch ihr dürft nicht traurig werden.
Reiche haben Armut gern.
Gänsebraten macht Beschwerden.
Puppen sind nicht mehr modern.
Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann.
Allerdings nur nebenan.
Lauft ein bißchen durch die Straßen!
Dort gibt's Weihnachtsfest genug.
Christentum, vom Turm geblasen,
Macht die kleinsten Kinder klug.
Kopf gut schütteln vor Gebrauch!
Ohne Christbaum geht es auch.
Tannengrün mit Osrambirnen -
Lernt drauf pfeifen! Werdet stolz!
Reißt die Bretter von den Stirnen,
Denn im Ofen fehlt's an Holz!
Stille Nacht und heil'ge Nacht -
Weint, wenn's geht, nicht! Sondern lacht!
Morgen, Kinder, wird's nichts geben!
Wer nichts kriegt, der kriegt Geduld!
Morgen, Kinder, lernt für's Leben!
Gott ist nicht allein dran schuld.
Gottes Güte reicht so weit...
Ach, du liebe Weihnachtszeit!

4. Thema - Ein neues originales Kinderbuch

Spend some time reading some of the original German stories written at the following website: Original German Stories.

Then using one of the free Internet sites below, create your own German children's story.

The following guidelines must be followed for each page:
1. Story must include some dialogue on each page;
2. Story must reflect the illustrations;
3. There must be a minimum of three lines per page and no less than 10 pages total;
4. Narration must be written in the simple past tense;
5. Use all grammar helps for exact writing.